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In September 2018, 12 experts from the media and civil society spent a secluded weekend away debating the South African media landscape. The desired outcome? The 2018 African Media Barometer: South Africa.
The report measures how the media is performing across various indicators, based on four sectors:
1. Freedom of expression, including freedom of the media, is effectively protected and promoted;
2. The media landscape, including new media, is characterised by diversity, independence and sustainability;
3. Broadcasting regulation is transparent and independent; the State broadcaster is transformed into a truly public broadcaster, and;
4. The media practise high levels of professional standards.
Each sector is made up of various indicators with individual scores, resulting in the sector receiving an average score out of five, measured using the following criteria:
1. Country does not meet indicator
2. Country meets only a few aspects of indicator
3. Country meets some aspects of indicator
4. Country meets most aspects of indicator
5. Country meets all aspects of indicator
The report doesn’t simply score on how we are performing, it goes on to highlight some of the more positive developments we have seen over the years. It also points out the negative and suggests various interventions and practical steps we can take in order to continue improving our performance.
On average, South Africa falls into the “country meets some aspects of indicator” score. At first glance this may seem quite positive, especially given the slightly higher score for “Freedom of expression, including freedom of the media, is effectively protected and promoted”.
Looking into some of the specific indicators, we have even improved some of our scores. This is a good thing. But, if we take a brief moment to look at the individual scores, the results paint quite a depressing picture. So, why should we be concerned about media freedom, and why now?
A free press is the foundation for any functional democracy. It informs the citizenry, educates and entertains and, most importantly, holds power to account. Political interference, corporate interest and commercial pressure all have an impact on how the media operates, and the potential to detrimentally affect media freedom.
South Africa is in the middle of a national election period. Tensions are already high and we are bombarded with an overwhelming amount of information daily. The safety and well-being of our journalists is a major concern as instances of threats and harassment (online and offline) seem to be on the rise, and we are seeing a surge of disinformation (often election-related) across our online platforms. One of the most critical institutions needed to ensure free and fair elections in a democracy is a free and independent media.
The results speak of a media that has made strides regarding freedom, yet it still lacks diversity (in content and ownership); our government that continues to deliberately keep our public broadcaster in crisis (currently on the brink of collapse); and access to the internet and information, which remains a massive challenge. Without an independent broadcaster free from political interference, the credibility of our national elections may very well be questioned.
Read: Two Angolan journalists charged over corruption expose
Without addressing the crisis of disinformation online, credibility and trust in our media will continue to decline. Without a concerted effort to continue fighting for the freedom of our media and the safety of our journalists, the media’s fundamental role will be affected, ultimately threatening the basic functioning of our democracy.
The report does, however, conclude by giving us some hope. We have incredible investigative journalism (which is a greater indication of a free media environment than people think) and, although there are challenges with access to the internet, if managed correctly, the digital environment could have a massively positive impact on access to information. We have a vibrant civil society working continuously to ensure media quality and freedom are promoted and realised. The report also offers some practical steps we can take to ensure we continue to move in a positive direction. Civil society needs to continue fighting to strengthen the accountability of our chapter 9 institutions. Sustainability can be realised if research for alternative funding models for media needs is conducted, and we need to ensure that communication is regulated under one government department.
If we want a functioning democracy and an electoral process that is free and fair; a society that is well informed, engaged and active; and a media that is trusted by its audiences, we have to all work towards ensuring that indicators measured in the African Media Barometer continue to improve and media freedom in South Africa is promoted and upheld.
Smith is head of the media policy and quality programme at Media Monitoring Africa
Join us on Wednesday, March 27 for the launch of the report and for a panel discussion featuring a selection of South Africa’s finest investigative journalists
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